Manning further requested that the press begin to refer to him using all feminine pronouns and the name "Chelsea."

Manning's attorneys suggested during the trial that the soldier's struggles with gender identity, and as a homosexual in the military, played a part in her decision to leak the stolen documents to WikiLeaks.

Twitter users had a range of reactions Thursday to the news of Manning's transformation to Chelsea.

The 25-year-old soldier was found guilty in military court last month of leaking secret U.S. documents to WikiLeaks. Manning was convicted on 20 charges, including Espionage Act violations, but was acquitted of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy.